The Ivor Composer Awards has announced its 2021 nominees.

For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on operatic and vocal composers.

The Vocal or Choral Composition category features Michael Zev Gordon’s “Baruch – Ten Propositions of Baruch Spinoza for Tenor and Piano;” Thomas Adès’ “Gyökér” for mezzo-soprano and four percussionists; Howard Goodall’s “Never Forget” for SATB Choir and small orchestra; Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s “Thinking I Hear Thee Call” for soprano, speaker, and electronics; and James Macmillan’s “Vidi Aquam” for 40 a capella voices, split into eight SSATB choirs.

In the Sound Art Category, Nwando Ebizie’s “Fire Prevention or How to Sing a Labyrinth or the Rebeing and The Burning of the Labyrinth” for piano, voice, and electronics with field recordings is the lone vocal nominee.

Of the nominees, Julian Joseph OBE, Chair of The Ivors Academy’s Awards Committee and Fellow of the Academy said, “My heartfelt congratulations go to everyone nominated for this year’s Ivors Composer Awards. As these awards recognize works premiered during 2020, when venues were closed for much of the year, I feel this list of nominees is a testament to the resilience of our composers. We now need to take every opportunity to nurture, fund and champion the writing, commissioning and performance of contemporary classical, jazz and sound arts.”